Respiratory disorders are medical conditions that affect and interrupt the normal function of the lungs and other surrounding structures in the body involved with breathing. These may include the upper and lower respiratory tract, the chest cavity and the muscles used for breathing.
These conditions can often cause various symptoms such as breathlessness, a persistent cough which may be associated with phlegm or blood, chest discomfort, unexplained weight loss and lethargy.
Respiratory conditions include but are not limited to asthma, emphysema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or chronic airflow limitation (CAL), bronchiectasis, pulmonary fibrosis, interstitial lung disease, chest infections, lung cancer, pleural effusion, pleural disorders, pulmonary embolism, pulmonary arterial hypertension, chronic cough and breathlessness.
